Do you have a yearning for adventure and a longing to hit the open road? At some point in our lives, many of us wish that we could just pack up and travel the world. Sadly, we usually have responsibilities or other obstacles that prevent us from being free to take that trip. Still, there’s always armchair travel – an alternative that has many advantages …
Snapshot Survey
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:
Cheap
Travelling can add up to an awful lot of money, once you’ve paid for flights, transfers, hotels, eating out, entertainment, shopping … However, armchair travel need cost you nothing at all, when the library is full of travel literature and guidebooks. Yes, these may not be completely up to date, but that doesn’t really matter for a virtual trip.
Armchair travel is a great way to explore the world without leaving the comfort of your own home. It's a great way to get to know different cultures, landscapes, and people without spending a fortune. Not only is it much cheaper than traditional travel, but it also has many other benefits.
Armchair travel can be done anytime and anywhere. You don't need to book flights or hotels, and you don't have to worry about taking time off work. With armchair travel, you can explore the world from your living room. You can pick up a book or watch a documentary and learn about a far-off destination without ever leaving your house.
Armchair travel is also a great way to experience different cultures without the risk of culture shock. You can learn about a new culture without having to worry about making mistakes or offending anyone. It's also a great way to learn about different languages and customs without having to leave your home.
Armchair travel is also much safer than traditional travel. You don't have to worry about getting lost or being in unfamiliar places. You can take your time and explore different cultures and places without ever having to worry about your safety.
/filters:quality(70)/cover/510a743e47aaa56379463c8f-landscape-travel.jpg)
Effortless
Ever felt that you need a holiday to recover from your holiday? That won’t happen with an armchair trip. There will be no exhausting journeys, no struggles with the language, no missed flights and absolutely no organisation required. All you have to do is flick through the guidebook and dream.
/filters:quality(70)/cover/5249a7f9d65908c77cf3d280-white-airplane-flying-over-the-sky-during-daytime-travel.jpg)
Safe
Most trips are safe providing you take sensible basic precautions like not flashing lots of cash, but unfortunately for some people their holiday is soured by theft or other problems. Your armchair trip, however, faces nothing more dangerous than a spilt cup of coffee and the library charging you for the cost of replacing a damaged book.
/filters:quality(70)/thumbs/23/6bizhl6hcye5v5j2rn6row_1080x1349.jpg)
No Planning Required
Organisation is definitely not my strong point. I could not organise a party in a brewery. So trying to work out when to travel, arranging petsitters and getting ready for the trip drives me mad. Armchair travel is perfect for the organisationally challenged, as there is absolutely no planning required. Hey presto – a stress-free ‘trip’.
/filters:quality(70)/cover/56f025330c4fe7834c8b45f7-a-person-standing-on-the-top-of-a-mountain-travel.jpg)
Delays? What Delays?
I tend to make short-haul trips, and when there have been delays they are never more than an hour, which is not exactly arduous. However, I have heard from friends of lengthy delays which have extended an already long journey by several more hours – not what you really need. That won’t happen if the furthest you are going is to the kitchen for another coffee!
/filters:quality(70)/thumbs/q1/q8/nmxduypk5abd413320fb4169259010_800x800.jpg)
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Imagination is Free
Sure, you can get some pretty cheap travel packages these days, but since you generally get what you pay for, you may find yourself in very basic accommodation in a less than inviting resort. A decent holiday will cost a small fortune. Imagination, on the other hand, will not cost you a penny, and can take you all over the world to places you could never afford to visit.
/filters:quality(70)/inspiration/thumbs/sq/ac/yfqttrd554c9856b1c7d8988573498_400x400.jpg)
Problem-Free
Absolutely nothing can go wrong with a virtual trip. You don’t have to accommodate anyone else’s wishes or listen to their complaints. You won’t argue about what to do or where to eat. The ‘trip’ will go exactly as you want it to. You won’t come back swearing that you will never, ever go on holiday with those people again.
What do you think of armchair travel – is it a poor substitute for the real thing, or is it a way to ‘experience’ places that you could never afford to see in real life?
Top Photo Credit: PrairiePeasant
